Mim's Italian Soup

A delicious soup for a cool autumn day spent watching sports! Serve with buttermilk biscuits or pumpkin muffins!

• Ready In: 4 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef or 1  lb turkey
• 1⁄2 lb chorizo sausage
• 1  beef bouillon cube
• 14  ounces diced tomatoes
• 16  ounces  whole wheat fusilli
• 5  small shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 1⁄2 lb  trimmed green beans, cut in half
• 1⁄2 stalk lemongrass, chopped finely
• 1  large zucchini
• 2 1⁄2 cups water
• 2  tablespoons  Italian spices
• 1  tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  tablespoon  freshly ground  coriander
• 1  tablespoon  freshly chopped Italian parsley
• 1  tablespoon  freshly chopped cilantro
• 1  teaspoon tarragon
•  olive oil, for skillet

Directions

1. Add olive oil to skillet and heat over medium heat. Add ground meat and chorizo sausage (casings removed). Brown on all sides.
2. Add the remainder of the ingredients to a slow cooker, omitting the pasta.
3. Once the meat and chorizo are browned, add to slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally.
4. About 30 minutes prior to serving, add pasta and stir occasionally.
5. Serve hot with biscuits or muffins.